Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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r fev. p~. CAPT. JIM McMIlLA rs\*/ ? = = AN UNUSUAL ?lt~ J^QJ'V ID you ever lio:ir of Cap-1 vj Yf tain Jim McMillan's tame j O T| (5 whale';" asked one of the j ^ U old-timers recently in a J down east town, with a party ol seamen discussing j the particulars of the Chinese difii- J culty. Without waiting for an invitation, .the speaker opened up with his story as follows "Captain Jim McMiiian was a retired sea captain who moved, with his family, to a small island 'down the bay,' near Deer Island, X. B., and under the protection of the Canadian flag. The island had a small harbor in which was a used-up weir that in former years had gathp-.-, ered up herring and other salt water fish so common in Tassamaquoddy Bay. With a few weeks of repairing the brush enclosure. Captain Jim had the weir in good condition again for the first catch of fish. He arranged the gate for .the high run of tides and ^ went home to await returns, v', "They were not long in coming, for the next day, when the veteran went off to investigate his newly-repaired weir, he was very much surprised and delighted to find an immense school of V fat-looking herring leisurely swimming around the inside and evidently enjoying the place. The fish were unh able to get out as the gate was closed, and there was considerable satisfaction in bis first catcb, since the fish I I had been ratuer scare m tne tnnerenc weirs near and the herring were in good demand by the sardine factory owners at the neighboring places. "Here was a lucky catch, indeed,, as he could quickly find a ready market for these large-sized herring at Eastport, where they would later find a place in one of the big smoke-houses oi1 be used as mustard sardines. ' The captain made a visit to Eastport a few hours later, told of his supply of herring alive in the weir and soon was offered a fair price; in fact, looked upon the lot of herring as .worth $100. '"When Captain McMillan returned to '* his Canadian home down the bay a few hours later, he was happy and his hopes ran high. " 'We'll have plenty to eat when I sell this lot of herring,' said he to his wife, who met him on the beach, 'and I'll buy you a new dress before I come back from Eastport, sure.' A short time later in the day he got into his " boat and pulled into the weir, when his hair stood on ends as he saw a very large and black-looking object resting on the water in the narrow enclosure. "It looked like the body of a big snake and the aged seaman thought it might be the famed mythical sea serpent he had so often read about, but had never seen 'before. Before he could leave the interior the big fi^i began swimming around the enclosure , in a circle and it did not take Captain Jim long to get on the outside and drop the big gate in place. His weir . full of herring a few hours before had I been eaten up or gone through the several small breaks in the side of the enclosure, made by the fish, and , this was enough to cause the captain to ulter a few oaths, since no one was near at the time. "He watched the big fellow a few minutes in silence, then said slowly, 'that critter cost $100 sure, and he may be worth that amount If I can get him?dead or alive, but the latter if possible.' He was not long in find/ jing out that the fish he had captured .was a very young whale, and since it was one of unusual length and very slim, might be taken for a big snake at a distance as the parts of the body came into view. It was not an easy matter to capture the fish alive witnout assistance, and determining to make the -best of his recent misfortune, Captain McMillan set out for his - home to inform his wife of the whale's visit, and what had become of their catch of herring. "It was a big disappointment, but she cheered him up with the remark that "even a dead whale was worth something.' The skipper went across to a neighboring island for help, later * returning with two boatmen and a long coil of rope with which they expected to capture the whale alive. Repeated attempts were made to get the rc>pe under the mammoth fish as it F swam arouiui insiue we weir, uui u was impossible to get near enough and finally the men had to give up ihe at tempt, p; . " 'There is only one way to get the whale landed safely on the beach, that I know of.' said one of the men, 'and that's to build on to your weir.' A lit| . tie explanation followed, and it was decided to extend one corner of the weir like the two fences of a lane, up on the beach to high water mark, then drive the big fish on shore where it could be captured when aground and ] helpless. "Work 011 the extension began that V day and continued for three days, then the lane was completed all but one 1hing. How to make an opening for the whale to find a false escape up the beach was a question for the fishermen to solve, and it looked like an impossibility. One of the boatmen finally hit on a plan of lowering down a gate at the end. after removing enough of the brush weir at that piace, and then to hoist it out of the water again. It required several hours of hard work to construct a suitable gate and sink it into place before the weir could be nit in the desired place, but this was finally done, and at the signal t.'ve false gate |k m ,N'S TAME WHALE II __ " FISH STORY. [ was arranged in position, tlion raised, j Ilnrdly had it reached the top of the I water than the whale seeing what tlooked like a sure opening and escape I in view darted up the narrow enclosure | at a rapid rate of speed. I if m. . l. - /? is .. x .7 jluc uig 11 sij eouiu uoi mm. ;um m less time than it takes to toil you the story was high and dry on the smooth beach. How that whale churned up the water with its tail when the tide began turning for the ebb. but in a few minutes the mammoth fish was as helpless as a baby. Captain McMillan measured the critter on the beach and found it more than forty-five feet from nose to tail, but unusually thin for a whale. "He did not want to kill his newfound prize and was at a loss how to hold it when the tide came in again, but concluded to build a small inclosure around the whale on the beach and at a future time expected to securely fasten a big hawser about the tail of the fish vrhich would hold. He set to work and soon had the captive securely .fenced in on all sides so that escape was almost impossible, and when the salt wate:r of the Bay of Fundy again reached ihe young whale there was some fun for a short time. Next day the captain came to Eastport and from a blacksmith secured a stout iron band to fit securely around the outer end of the whale's tail, just back of the outer fin. ' In the band was an 'eye' to fasten on.a light chain, and with his newlymade collar he soon returned home, and after some difficult}', at low tide, had the iron band fastened around his , victim on the beach. Y>'hen the tide again came in part of the fence was removed, and the chain was securely fastened on both ends, one being in the eye of the band, the sea monster was a , prisoner. "Captain McMillan concluded to al- ; low his captive into deeper water than his cove afforded, so that the fish might be able to look after its supply of food curing the day when he was not around. For a few days the captive whale made a lively time of it and tried to break away from the chain, but finally was obliged to submit, and ; after a short time devoured a quantity of food brought near the weir by the 1 owner. Many of the island residents , came from the neighboring places to see the captive whale on the chain, and . Captain McMillan was asked why he ] did not exhibit his prize at the large ] cities across the border and aloug the , Maine coast. , "That would have been easily enough , done had the fish been dead, or small 1 enough to carry about in a boat, but , how could . he get a forty-livo-foot 11 whale out ot the harbor in safety? 'It was not Ions before the bis fish ( began to show signs of becoming tame. , and on the approach of meal time was , always found ready to devour the food . provided. 4*In several weeks Jim's baby whale , had increased somewhat in length and j also became quite tame, so that when , the veteran seaman came near it in his , boat his captive would play alongside. After two months had passed and the ! fish had increased in size to be noticed, Jim thought he had better secure a , stouter chain to hold his pet, and again ' made a visit to Eastport for a longer j and heavier piece of chain. This he , &oon secured and returned to his Cana dian home to make the change, when he was much surprised and disappoint- ] ed when he was told that the whale had broken the chain and disappeared ( into the deeper water of the Bay ofFundy. It was quite a shock to Cap lain Jim to find the broken chain and ! lose his whale after so much expense . and trouble, but he returned to his , house and talked over the loss with his wife. " "Never mind. Jim, perhaps the big fish will come back for his dinner as , usual, as I've heard of such things, and, you know, that wasn't no ordi- ' nary whale, neither. That whale was tame when it left these waters, and mark me when I say that you'll see the fish back when it's time for the grub to be served.' "The husband allowed that the whale was certainly tame, but how was he to again capture the big fellow if he shouldn't return do the cove for the customary noon meal. " 'I'd better shoot the critter and be sure of the carcass this time; what do you say, wifey ?' " "Don't you be too hasty, Jim, but wait for developments, as the whale will return often if it comes back once, you can bet. Only wait and see.' "At t?e appointed hour for feeding his former pet Captain McMillan went down to the ledge where he had stood so often on recent days and tossed the food into the bay to his friend, the whale. "He threw the bucket of food to the I water and watched it sink below the surface, but before the last particle had disappeared the dark form of a , long, slender fish came to view, and when the tail was exposed there was the telltale iron ring and hanging to it a small piece of chain. " "That's my whale!' exclaimed Jim. as the big fish swam leisurely about the cove and did not seem to want to leave the small harbor when the food was gone. ' _ - I ' Tlie old seaman remained on the! rocks for a long time, and was then : convinced that his wife was right about the fish which had come back to i stay, evidently. Next day, and as fast | as meal time came, there was the tame ! whale, and soon the islanders heard of i I Jim's lucky find. When Jim went out; to gather up his lobster traps or iiaul i in liis fishing lines and nets the wnaie accompanied him. and always was rewarded by receiving a newly caught cod or pollock off the hooks. One day Captain McMillan started out on a fishing trip down the bay. and not: far from Grand Manan. X. B.. a fierce gale arose and a blustering snowstorm set in. which promised to last l'or several days. ' Mrs. McMillan and her children nil the bench near their home rind watched closely through the storm for the husband and father, but nothing could b? seen in th.e distance excepting the high waves in which 110 small boat could live. '*If Jim was out on that storm, he had little chance t'> escape, she thought, and as the day was nearly gone and no signs of her husband, she began to feel a little uneasy. "The storm seemed to increase in fury, piling the waves high up on the beach, and it began 10 look as if another seaman was to be reported among tue missing. "But what was that long, low object she saw coming up the bay 1 ike a fast moving steamboat half buried in the water? The more she looked at it the more she wondered, and as the object came nearer site was able to make out the form of a snake-like lish of a very large si:se, the head high up out of the water. "Could it he her husband's tame whale back for its dinner at tills late hour, she thought, as she supposed ine fish hail gone away early in tlu- day. As it came close to the point of land on which she stood she saw that there was some object on its back that resembled a human being, and as the whale came into the small harbor with the speed of a steamboat under all steam, the form of her husband coukl be plainly seen. He lay across the whale's back, near the neck, with his arms over the side of the fish, holding on with a firm grip and in another minute Capt. Jim's form arose from the surf a'nd was quickly clasped in his wife's arms. He followed her into the house and after a complete change of clothing followed by a warm drink, he told her how he had been saved from a watery grave by his faithful whale, which seemed to know considerable. " 'When the storm broke this morning,' said Jim, we were well down the bay and before I could get prepared for the storm my mast broke off by the fierce wind. What followed I am unable to say, excepting that I struck in the icy water and was sinking when I felt something soft like, coming up under my hands, and you can bet I grabbed it. When I came to the surface I saw it was my tame whaie, and then I felt safer than I had a minute before, although I was at a loss to know just what the big fish would do and where it would take me. I talked to the faithful whale as I would to a person, as I had done so often during the meal hour, and promised him extra rations if he landed me safely on our beach. " *You know the rest,' continued the captain to his wife, 'and here I am safe led sound after a ride of fully twenty miles on the back of a real whale, but i good one, I can assure you." "Captain McMillan turned the fish to ?ood use later, when he went out 011 bis fishing trips, as he would fasten 1 stout rope to the iron band in the whale's tail and would be towed home faster than by sailing, or even steam, as the fish always came into the little cove. All went well for about a year and many tempting offers were made for the wonderful fish, but Jim would not part with his silent friend for any amount, as to the fish lie owed his life, tie was just beginning to teach the whale to tow his boat to different neighboring towns in Passamaquoddy Bay. when the long fish took sick and lied. "That was a sad blow to Captain McMillan, gentlemen, as well as liis family, and it was a long time before they fully recovered from the shock and the loss of their pet. "Captain McMillan didn't knew jnst what to do with the body, but finally decided to give it a burial in the bay near his home and mark the spot with a gravestone in the form of a big buoy above the dead whale. ''This he carried out to the letter an<3 the unique funeral services were held on the beach the following day and were attended by quite a larsrc gathering of Canadian friends from the islands near. ''That ended Captain MeM'llan\a tame a hale, gentleman," said the speaker, "and I will now bid yoti ftII good-night," saying which, he gathered up his bundles and start; J for hij i home.?Lewiston Journal. Animals as Iiuitatovc. Some animals have wonder.Tr! rotrers of imitation. Dogs bror;;kt u;? in the company of cats have been kr.cwa to acquire the trick cf licking the paws and then washing the face. When a cat has been taught to sit r.;? for her food her kittcno have trea known to imitate her action. Darwin tells of a cat that was ii tin habit c 1 putting her paw into the month of a narrow milk pitcher every time she got the chance and then licking the cream off licr paw. Her kitten locn learned the same trick. A lady tells of a rabllt L!iat she keens in a cage with a non'-icy. and says that Bunny has caught many of the monkey's ways. It is said that starving pigeons that have been brought up on grain will not eat peas to save their lives, but that if pea-eating pigeons are put with them they follow their example and eat peas.? Detroit News-Tribune. ? * The Ohlest Grodn&ts. The Rev. William Lawton Brown, the oldest living graduate of Brown University, has turned his ninetieth year. He is a resident of' Wrentham, Mass., where he lives with a daughter. ?NJTNirsHMfMrsJCNJ?V?i \ SOUTH CAROLINA k; k STATE NEWS ITEMS, i j Gregory Again Under Bail. Birt Gregory, charged with poisoni-n rr Viio ViT-iHo r\f thrpp wppIcs at IJll ion, was re-arrested after her J death and later admitted to a $1,500 j bail by Judge Ernest Gary on the ap- I plication of the defendant's attorneys. * * # Charged With Killing Convict. I'pon warrants sworn out by Solicitor Thurmond, G. H. Sawyer and M. R. j Prince, sergeant and guard of the i Edgefield county chaingang, were arrested and placed in jail at Edgefield to await trial charged with the killing cf the negro convict, Wade Hartley. * * * Fire Destroys Cotton. Fire recently destroyed the ginnery nn thp nlantation of J. R. Miller, in j Anderson county. There were thirty-two bales of cotton in the building, an* of this being destroyed except five that were partially damaged and six that were saved from the flames. * * Parents Refuse to Prosecute. Ed Ballard, a mulatto, arrested upon the charge of attempting to criminally i assault a 7-year-old colored girl, has | been released from jail at Union, as the girl's parents would net swear out a warrant against him. * ** Alleged Counterfeiters Nabbed. Chief Riley and Officer McClane, did a neat piece of work at Abbeville in capturing two persons who are strangers for circulating counterfeit dollar coins. The prisoners said at the time of their arrest that they were southern men and told other prisoners later that they came from Chicago. They attempted to throw away spurious money while hand-cuffed. * * Low Water Interferes With Mills. The cotton mills of Spartanburg county and section, located on streams from which they derive their power, have been facing a crisis on account of the exceedingly low water. There are some mills that have been running three days in the week on account of the lack of water power. These mills wait three days for the reservoirs to b'ecome filled and then run three or four days until the supply is again exhausted. I One laree new mill, the Apalachie, I it is said, has been unable to start up yet on account of the unprecedented low stage of the water. . * * Killed While Beating His Wife. Lucius Cuthbert, colored, met death near Sheldon, Beaufort county, while beating his wife. The negro had his wife down on the ground beating her with his fl?t. when his brother, Jonas, who had been hunting, walked up with a gun on his shoulder. Lucius immediately made a dash at his brother to secure the gun with which he intended to kill his wife. Jonas objected to this and a struggle ensued. The gun was discharged, the load, which was No 8 shot, entering Lucius' face, tearing his jaw away. He died shortly afterward, Jonas, accompanied by a constable, walked twenty mlies to Beaufort to surrender. * % Damage Suit Compromised. At Newberry, the case of T. Herbert j Cook against the Carolina Manufacturing Company, in which the plaintiff has entered suit against the company for $15,000, has been settled by a consent verdict. A year ago Mr. Cook, while operating a shaper in the defendant's place of business, had his left arm torn into shreds by being caught in the machine. Shortly after wards suit for $15,000 was Instituted against the concern. The case was tried at the last term of court, resulting in a mistrial. By the compromise verdict the company awards the young man $2,500. * * * College Proposition to the Fore. The Presbyterian synod of the state of South Carolina met at Clinton Tuesday. The proposition for the removal ol the Prebyterian Theological seminary from Columbia to Atlanta will, perhaps, be the most important mattei up before the body for discussion. The seminary in question is undei the control of the churches of the de nomination in South Carolina, Geor gia, Alabama and Florida, and the proposition in order tc carry must re ceive a majority vote of the synod oj each state. As the South Caroline denomination will be the first to con sider the matter, its action is awaited with interest. * * # Woman's Arrest Follows Fire. At Sumter a few days ago Mrs. Fannie S. Baskins was arrested on a warrant sworn out by H. W. Holoway representing the comptroller general Mrs. Basking was released on a bond of $1,000 for her appearance at a preliminary hearing. Mrs. Baskins' arrest grew out of a fire which occurred recently at a house in v/hjcli she was Hoarding, it was alleged that -Mrs. Easkins had $20C' insurance on articles not worth $50. .Mrs. Br-sk:n.;; is a woman of some means, and it is said will tight a lively legal battle. She has many friends ?n Sumter and Lee counties. The arrest caused a sensation. * $ * . Fatal Duel in the Public Road. M. M. Morse has been shot and instantly killed in Saluda county by W. L. Henderson. Henderson received c load oi shot in his right arm. Both parties used shotguns, weapons which it is said the two men had been carrying for each other for some time. There has been ill feeling between the two men for several months, and tlie homicide was no surprise to those who were acquainted with the facts. Morse and Henderson met in the public road, the former being in a buggy with his son-in-law, en route home from Edgefield. Henderson was also in a buggy. Both men were armed. Very few words were passed before the duel began, Morse was shot twice, one load entering the abdomen. This is the shot whicu produced instant death. Henderson will probably lose his right hand and left arm as a result of t.*.e wounds received. * * * Cot\on Mills Enlarged. The installation of 10,000 more spindles ?nd 250 more looms at Monarch Cotton Mills, in Union, one of a group of big cotton mills in-the immediate section in which S. M. Milliken and associates of New York are iargu stockholders, has just been completed and marks quite an important step in industrial development, when the present state of the cotton goods situation is considered. This mill has rather a remarkable history, anyway, for since breaking dirt for the foundation in the sprang of 1900, it began operation just a year afterward with 10,000 spindles and 300 looms;' the same fall 5,000 more spindles and 100 looms were added; aga\i in the spring of 1903, the complement was increased by 15,000 spindles and 350 looms, making the total equipment then of 30,000 spindles and 750 looms. In the spring of 1904 the building still was not filled to its utmost capacity, so it was decide^ to bring-this about by putting in 10,000 spindles and 250 looms, which has just been done, so that 40,000 spindles and 1,000 looms are now in operation In this one mill alone. ? * Death Rather Than Motherhood. A few days ago Governor Heyward commuted ihe death sentence of H. Hayes to life imprisonment in the penitentiary. This action was based principally on the decision of an expert examiner of hand-writing. Hayes had been convicted in Oconee county of having killed his wife, and the evidence was circumstantial, with nothing to show motive. The statement of the expert increases that feeling of doubt to such an extent that Governor Heyward is unwilling to See the man suffer the death penalty. ndt PTsnt an nnonnditional pardon for the reason that there are j many circumstances unfavorable- to ! the accused. The main evidence on which the governor's action is taken, was a note produced by the defense purporting to have been written by the dead woman, which indicates that she took her own life instead of being murdered by her husband. This note is as follows: "To Lula; I am treated well by Hoyt, but I had rather die than to have the pain and sickness of motherhood, I therefore I write to let you know I did it." This letter, with other samples of the woman's handwriting, was submitted to David N. Carvallo, the handi writing expert, who figured in the Molineaux case, who says the writing in the note is that of the woman. TO ISSUE HAOUE CALL. President Preparing to Fulfill Promise to Peace Congress Delegates. A Washington 'special says: The president is preparing to redeem nis promise to the delegates to the interparliamentary peace conference to secure another meeting of plenipotentiaries of the powers signatory to The I Hague convention, with a view to reI ~ tr. that instrument. t iOlilg auu ttUUiilg VU VUMV -- ? Complex machinery of this kind is difficult to set in motion and If the Ordinary course is followed in these negotiations, it will be at least a year and probSbly a, longer period before the meeting can beheld. It will be necessary for the state department to address separate notes to every government represented at the last conferenc, inviting suggestions as to the time and place of meeting, and without doubt, in the spirit of caution that is always exhibited by diplomats, many of these governments will, before giving their assent to the proposed conference seek to secure an ironclad agreement as to the scope j of the conference. One Killed; Seven Hurt. ^ - 1.111 A J J? une person waa iuucu auu bvvcu injured Friday in a collision on the Panhandle railroad in Pensylrania, between the Wheeling express, east- " bound, and a light-running freight eirgine, westbound. - 1. . DIVORCEES BARRED ' > ; <rV'M -A Episcopal House of Bishops Forbid All Remarriages. r A STRICT AMENDMENT J No Minister Allowed to Perform Cere- ' Njj| mony Where Either Candidate for Matrimony Have Living Husband or Wife. -j. A Boston dispatch says: 'The house of bishops, one of the legislative bodies of the Episcopal general convention, Monday adopted an amend- \ men: to the canon on marriage and divorce, forbidding the remarriage of any divorced persons. The tarnend- - ; r ment was substantially the same as that wnich was rejected by the house of deputies on Friday last. The action of the bishops was not unexpect- . ed, as the sentiment of the body was well known. In fact, a similar amend- v ment was passed at the San Francis- x co convention three years ago, but failed, as was the case this year, to secure the support of the other house. A conference of committees representing the bishops and the deputies will be held to consider the disagreement, but leading clergymen do not anticipate. that the deputies will recede from their vote of last week, ^he amendment is as follows: ; J "No clergyman shall solemnize a mnrrinee between any two nersrmn un- '* A less by inquiry he snail have satisfied. himself that neither person has < been husband or wife of any other person ,then Jiving, from whom he or she has been divorced for any cause arising after marriage." Several additional amendments were put before the house of bishops, one of which is that a divorced person shall not be admitted to the sacraments. There is a proviso however,: that the sacraments shall not be refused a penitent person in imminent danger of death, nor to any person who shall solemnly aver that heior she was the innocent person in a divorce for the cause of adultery. Another amendment which wa.^ adopted compels all clergymen to observe closely the ^tate laws.oft marriages and provides for the presence ; of at least two witnesses. . '\ PRITCHARD RAN AMUCK/ ;'1 ' ; . "| Crazed by Cigarettes, Lieutenant Slays Fellow Officer and Self, A Manila special says: Second Lieutenant William D. Pritchard, in a fit of Insanity, shot and killed Second Lieutenant Frederick D. Dean. He then shot and killed himself. Both officers were attached to the Thirteenth regiment, United States chvalry, stationed at Camp Stotzenberg. Lieutenant Pritchard was a son of Judge Peter C. Pritchard, of the Uni ted States circuit court in Virginia and North Carolina. ' j A dispatch from Raleigh, N. C., i says: The suicide of Lieutenant Pritchard in the P^-ippines causes cxj pressions of sorrow and the deepest sympathy to be sent to his father, > J Judge Pritchard, from all parts of North Carolina. Lieutenant Pritchard was almost j unknown here, having visited Raleigh only twice, and then only for a <.* day or two. Inquiry made regarding | him shows that he was in 1898 a an- ' perb specimen of manhood, weighing ! 200 pounds and over six feet tall. He * ; was then appointed a lieutenant of | volunteers that year and wen to the Philippines, where he served on the staff of Colonel Thad Jones, in the cavalry. He was mustered out * and appointed a lieutenant of cavalry in the regular army. In the interval, he had become a _ victim of the cigarette habit, and this had so afflicted him physically that . 3 he was, when thus appointed to the army, cadaverous. He was so addicted to the habit that it is said he gdt up nightly to smoke. It is believed that this caused mental aberration, and led to the killing of his brother officer and his own suicide. \ "*2 _ KITE FLYING CONTEST. Unique Aeronautic Spectacle is Witnessed at the World's Fair. With eighteen entries, representing America, England and Japan, the first kite flying contests of the kind ever held began Monday in the aeronautic concourse, the Stadium and other clear places at the world's fair. Among the contestants were ?r. Alexander t r Graham Bell, inventor of the tele- * phone bearing that name; Professor E. Eddie, inventor of the Eddie kite, and Captain Baden-Powell, of England. Forms of kites never before seen in this part of the world were shown. j ALFONSO'S SISTER DEAD. Quondam Queen of Spain Diet in Child-Birth at Madrid. A dispatch from Madrid, Spain, says": The Infanta Maria de Las Mercedes, j Princess of the Austria?, sister of King A Alfonso and wife of Prince Charles, * of Bourdon, gave birth to a daughter Sunday and died Monday. * 4 The princess of the Austrias was J queen of Spain until the birth of her V brother, the present king.